Japan scholar Paul Varley's concise and accessible introduction to the Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu, describes its history from the early ninth century to the present day and discusses the four major aspects of chanoyu.

The ekibento, or "station boxed lunch," has been a popular treat in Japan for over 100 years. It can be used to teach about both Japanese food and about how Japanese "traditions" have been integrated into modern life. Photo taken July 2008.

Professor Ian Condry uses popular Japanese music to start a conversation about cultural identity and cross-cultural influences. He offers specific examples and gives links to music videos and translations of lyrics.

Why do societies that practice rice cultivation tend to be densely settled and complexly organized? Conrad Totman, Professor of Japanese History at Yale University (Emeritus) responds to this question with an accessible overview of the history of and mechanics behind rice cultivation in Japan.